Tian Yunzi, a member of the Alliance Elder Council, possessed divine abilities of a truly awe-inspiring nature. In his prime, even the venerable Xuan Bao Shangren held him in considerable apprehension, loath to cross him lightly.

While Tian Yunzi was not the strongest amongst the Elders, even the mightiest of that august body would hesitate to draw his ire! This speaks volumes of Tian Yunzi’s formidable power. Yet, he maintained a remarkably low profile, gradually fading from common knowledge.

Now, a colossal finger, coalesced beyond Tian Yun Star, descended with ponderous grace. Though seemingly slow, its speed was astonishing, and with its approach came earth-shattering booms that echoed through the void. Every cultivator upon Tian Yun Star felt an indescribable and terrifying majesty descend upon their world.

The very tip of this gargantuan digit, swollen with a surfeit of Heaven and Earth’s vital force, birthed a vast, iridescent arc, hundreds of zhang in length, that struck Tian Yun Star before the finger itself.

The entire planet shuddered. The layers of astral winds churned violently, as if some colossal force rippled within. As the finger drew nearer, from the distant void, the point of contact between Tian Yun Star and the descending digit showed signs of celestial rupture, crumbling into dust and scattering, distorting all before it.

The thunderous reverberations shook the heavens as the immense finger plunged into the astral winds. With a deafening crack, the winds shattered, the iridescent arc cleaving a path through them as they recoiled in wild disarray.

The finger forced open a gaping fissure, an ever-widening rent in the firmament that spawned swirling currents and a sudden, dramatic shift in the clouds above.

From the surface, the spectacle appeared as though the heavens had been pierced by a colossal hole, through which an enormous finger slowly emerged, pointing directly towards a valley a thousand li beyond Ghost Eye City! Even before its descent, a suffocating pressure descended, causing the earth to crack and splinter. Every cultivator on Tian Yun Star, who held any degree of self-worth in their cultivation, paled with dread, yet none dared to venture forth to investigate.

The overwhelming pressure stifled their spirits. A sense of impending doom, of the world’s imminent destruction, rose unbidden from the depths of their hearts.

Above Ghost Eye City, where torrential rains and lightning had raged, now the storm clouds were swept aside by the descending finger, like curtains pulled back from a well, clearing the stage for this divine act.

A particularly dense cloud, unable to escape, was crushed by the arc’s wave, exploding in a brilliant flash of interconnected lightning that illuminated the heavens for several breaths.

These lightning bolts danced along the wave’s path, painting the night sky in a mesmerizing display, an unforgettable spectacle of raw power and terrifying beauty! The thunder roared with such ferocity that it sounded as though the very sky was about to break apart under the finger’s descent.

Within the valley, Wang Lin watched the ponderous descent, his face grim. He could clearly sense the aura emanating from the finger. It was Tian Yunzi! “What manner of art is this?” Wang Lin clutched the sliver of Extreme Yang. The moment it touched his hand, the Heaven Defying Bead within his soul trembled subtly.

He had no time to ponder the Bead’s reaction. He stored the sliver away, his eyes burning with intensity as he fixed his gaze upon the descending finger.

The finger, vast and all-encompassing, cast a seven-colored light upon the land, its descent accompanied by earth-shattering booms that echoed relentlessly. It carved deep fissures in the sky, closing inexorably upon Wang Lin.

An unimaginable pressure descended, focusing on his position.

“Tian Yunzi!” Wang Lin muttered, his brow furrowed. He reached into his storage bag and withdrew a small object, a Rain-Summoning Crystal given to him long ago by Qing Shui. Qing Shui had said that the crystal held three Rain-Summoning spells cast with his own power, spells of extraordinary strength. Wang Lin had saved it as a last resort, but now, the time had come! The immense finger, manifested by Tian Yunzi’s divine power, continued its descent, heading straight for Wang Lin. The deafening roar was terrifying, and the relentless pressure caused further fissures to erupt in the earth. Even Ghost Eye City felt the effects, its walls crumbling and cries of fear echoing from within! Meanwhile, a considerable distance from Tian Yun Star, yet still within its sphere of influence, lay a cultivation star known as Da Luo. On Da Luo stood only one sect: the Da Luo Sword Sect. It held dominion over a vast territory, spanning hundreds of thousands of li, its scale far exceeding that of Tian Yun Sect. Ling Tianhou, ever ambitious, spared no expense in establishing the Da Luo Sword Sect, making its size truly colossal! Within its borders, spiritual mountains dotted the landscape, alongside countless pavilions and towering pagodas. These pagodas, numbering nine hundred and ninety-nine, formed a world-shattering formation! Amongst them, one pagoda stood out, surpassing all others in height and design. It was ten times the size of an ordinary pagoda, its peak reaching into the clouds, its majestic presence visible from afar! Atop this grand pagoda, the Sword Sovereign, Ling Tianhou, sat in meditation, four spirit swords shimmering around him in a 口 formation. Their sharp, permeating sword aura filled the tower and infused Da Luo Star with its terrifying might! “Interesting! Most Interesting!” Ling Tianhou suddenly opened his eyes, a glint of coldness in his gaze, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“How many times have master and disciple turned against each other now? I always enjoy watching Old Man Tian Yun suffer… but this Wang Lin is one of the Vermillion Bird inheritors. Even Alliance Elders must think twice before harming them, for no one wants to attract the wrath of the Four Sacred Sects, the former overlords of Kun Xu Star Region!”

“Very well, Wang Lin. If you can survive Old Man Tian Yun’s attack, I will give you a hand!” Ling Tianhou’s smile widened. He enjoyed nothing more than causing trouble for Tian Yunzi.